iHemp Hour

Michigan’s cannabis tourism industry is taking off, and Connie Sparrow of Derive Travel is leading the charge with The Nest—a first-of-its-kind cannabis concierge accommodation in Muskegon. Featuring personalized bud bars, dab education, infusion chef experiences, and partnerships with licensed retailers, Sparrow is transforming how out-of-state visitors from illegal states experience legal cannabis. With Cannabash returning July 8th expecting 15,000 attendees, and expansion properties launching across West Michigan, this is cannabis hospitality reimagined.

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Lori and Andrew Putt of HOH CBD reveal the real costs of building a vertically integrated hemp business—from five-week payment freezes to 20-document international shipments to Brazil. Their hard-won lessons on branding, quality systems, and surviving the CBD marketplace offer a roadmap for Michigan’s hemp entrepreneurs.

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University researchers have secured $700,000 in federal funding for a three-year hemp grain and fiber study—and they’re actively seeking experienced Michigan growers to participate as research cooperators. With stipends available, seed provided, and the chance to help build the performance-based testing database that could eventually eliminate compliance testing for proven varieties, this is a rare opportunity to shape the future of Midwest hemp agriculture.

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Cody Ley of Hemp for Humanity is planning to build 20 hemp-based homes in Detroit using locally-sourced materials from underserved Michigan farmers—and he’s solving technical challenges like thermal bridging along the way. In this episode of the iHemp Hour, Lay shares his journey from plastics research to hemp farming, explains why CBG might be the cannabinoid you’re missing, and reveals how 100 acres of hemp could transform a Detroit neighborhood.

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When SWAT teams raided award-winning CBD producer Michael Tui’s farm and medical office, they found $400 and a tractor—but no charges have been filed. His story exposes troubling questions about Michigan’s hemp enforcement and the regulatory maze facing legitimate operators. Learn how you can help and what this means for the industry.

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iHemp Michigan has been a major proponent of hemp for fiber and grain. While grain is taking longer with the research required, we just received great news on the fiber […] ...

Fifth-generation Michigan farmers Dennis and Eric Dean have cracked the code on profitable hemp farming—and they’re sharing their secrets. From their award-winning bucking machine that replaces 12 workers to their direct-to-consumer model that’s driven 50% annual growth, Lakeland Hemp offers a blueprint for surviving (and thriving) in an industry that’s seen a 90% grower dropout rate. Plus: seedless hemp varieties that could change everything for CBD flower producers.

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Colorado’s Global Fiber Processing proves regional hemp decorticating can work—if you’re willing to rebuild farmer trust one handshake at a time. Founder Melissa Peterson shares the real numbers: $2.5M startup costs, $300/ton farmer payments, and seven distinct revenue streams from a single stalk. Her message to Michigan? The infrastructure opportunity is real, but proximity to farms is everything.

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Special guest Andrew Bish, of Bish Enterprises, joins us as we discuss hemp feed regulation. Andrew is working with the Hemp Feed Coalition to bring about fair regulation for the use of hemp grain in animal feed. Learn more about the Hemp Feed Coalition and help their cause by joining https://hempfeedcoalition.org.

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